Medicare Monday: Advancing treatments for osteoporosis with medicines in development

Since the implementation of Medicare Part D, we’ve seen numerous signs of success when it comes to how the program works and how it helps seniors and individuals with disabilities live longer, healthier lives. Take, for example, the fact that gaining Part D coverage was tied to an 8 percent decrease in hospital admissions. Or that close to 200,000 beneficiaries have lived at least one year longer following the implementation of Part D in 2006. And there are more medicines in development for older Americans than before Part D was implemented.

For osteoporosis, a disease that affects millions of Americans, there are currently nine medicines in clinical trials or undergoing review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

That’s according to a new report from PhRMA and the National Osteoporosis Foundation, “Medicines in Development for Osteoporosis.” The report also found that there are 34 clinical trials studying osteoporosis treatments across the United States, and America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are continuing to work to advance the treatment of this disease.

For Americans 50 or older, research shows that 50 percent of women and a quarter of men will suffer from osteoporosis. As America’s aging population grows, advancements in diagnosis and treatments are needed.

Each step toward a new treatment or new cure provides hope for not only the patients, but also their families, as they learn to live with osteoporosis. That is progress, and it is progress we should be excited about.

Nicole Longo Nicole is senior manager of public affairs at PhRMA focusing on Medicare, 340B, importation and more. She previously worked for a D.C.-based public affairs firm where she assisted a wide range of clients with communications efforts on everything from trade policy to agriculture policy to health care policy. Outside the office, Nicole can be found trying new restaurants (usually Italian), taking an occasional barre class and cheering on the Cincinnati Bengals.